Chapter 1: The Great Gonzalez
Chapter 2: Strange Books and Stranger Boxes
Chapter 3: New Companions and Old Rivalries
Chapter 4: The First Gym
Chapter 5: In the Mountains...
Chapter 6: Waterside Warfare
Chapter 7: Experiments at the Cape
Chapter 8: Struggle on the SS Anne
My attempts to make shorter chapters backfire horribly here, but I've always been a big Team Rocket fan, especially of Giovanni.
Chapter 9: Giovanni
The sun rises high in the sky as I look ahead to the city I'm approaching. According to the map, it's Celadon City. The city is the largest I've ever seen before, with large buildings stretching to the sky. I pick up my pace as I near the city, curious as to what all a large place like this could hold.
It's been three weeks now since my battle with Gary on the SS Anne, and the loss of my former companion, Wiggler. Wiggler's death weighed heavily on my mind, and it was nearly a week before I felt ready to battle again. By the time I went back to Vermilion Gym, the vines that were blocking the door were gone, which I assumed was thanks to Gary. The leader of the gym, Lt. Surge, was a massive blond man with a team of electric pokemon. Unfortunately for him, electric types are nearly useless against Geodudes, and his team ended up being easy fodder for Stallone. After receiving the Thunder Badge from Surge, I stopped by Wiggler's grave site one last time before leaving town.
Due to the main roads to Saffron being closed, I decided for my next destination to be the gym at Celadon City. The journey to this city was not easy either however, the most direct path was blocked by a massive pokemon. Unable to waken or capture the pokemon, I ended up taking a detour that end through a pitch dark cave. I also passed through a small place call Lavender Town. The only notable thing in the town though was a large tower that apparently has ghosts it, but I wouldn't be able to see the ghosts without some sort of special scope. I figured it would be a waste of time to go there if I couldn't see anything, and simply passed through the town after a quick stop at the pokemon center. A couple more days of traveling went by before I finally I could see Celadon on the horizon.
As I walk through the city, I end up hearing a conversation between two frantic men in lab coats. Apparently a member of Team Rocket stole something pretty valuable from one of them. I've had a few run with Team Rocket members before, and by run ins, I mean their pokemon ended up getting beaten pretty badly. I decide to keep an eye out for any of their members while I continue looking around the city. Maybe if I find what those guys were looking for I can get some sort of reward after it. Traveling is sort of annoying, and some extra cash would always be nice to have.
Looking around the city, I eventually come across what appears to be a large casino. I'm not really interested in gambling, so I almost ignore the place, before noticing the sign out front. "Rocket Game Corner, please tell me they didn't make it that obvious," I think to myself as I take a look inside. Despite it being advertised as an "adult's playground," none of the employees seem to mind someone my age walking around. Nothing seems suspicious about the place at first, but then I see a guy in a Team Rocket uniform staring at a poster on the wall, which nearly causes me to do a double-take. Standing around in a Team Rocket Uniform in a place called Rocket Game Corner - no clue how those guys in lab coats couldn't find him. Curious about what's so interesting about that poster he's staring at, I walk up behind him, trying to get a good look over his shoulder. Suddenly he notices me and turns around, glaring at me.
"'Ey, get lost, kid. Boss told me not'a let anybody near 'dis poster."
"Oh, so there's something special about this poster, huh. What is it?." I side step around the Team Rocket lackey to get a closer look at the poster, quietly letting a pokeball fall out my hand onto the floor.
"Looks like I'ma have ta throw ya out by force, eh?" The lackey's hand grasps a hold of the back of my shirt. I look back at him, and see a large vine wrap itself around his arm. He lets go of me and turns around himself, and sees Gonzalez standing there next to the pokeball I dropped while moving up to the poster. The grunt then attempts to each his other hand into his pocket, possibly for his own pokeballs, but Gonzalez releases some spores from the plant on his back, and the Rocket grunt passes out on the floor.
With the TR henchman out of the way, I turn and take a good look at the poster. There doesn't seem to be anything special about it at first, but I notice a spot there the ink looks worn, as if that spots been touched more than the rest of it. I place my hand on the worn spot on the poster, and realize that there's a button under it. Upon pressing the button, and a the floor of what originally looked like a dead end hallway in the back of the casino opens up, revealing a staircase. Curiosity definitely kicking in at this point, I run down the staircase, pushing open the metal door at the bottom.
As the door opens, I end up in what looks like a large underground base, most likely Team Rocket's hideout. Maybe what got stolen from those guys outside ended up in here, I think to myself, if only to justify my decision to snoop around. I don't get far before another Rocket lackey runs into me, threatening to throw me out of the hideout by force as he unleashes his pokemon. I throw out the pokeball containing Tenma, who during my trip to Celadon evolved into a Kadabra. After painfully seeing how deadly Gary's Kadabra was, I wanted to find out how powerful my own could be, and this seemed like a good opportunity to find out. The grunt's Machop easily went down to Tenma's psychic attack, and his Drowzee, despite being psychic as well, wasn't able to handle multiple attacks from Tenma. After both of his pokemon were down, the grunt ran off.
I continued exploring the hideout, Tenma dispatching the pokemon of every Team Rocket member that came after me. After interrogating some of the members once Tenma took out their pokemon, I found out that the stolen item was a scope that supposedly allows people to see ghosts. Maybe it will work on the ghosts in the tower over at Lavender Town. According to some of the lackeys I question though, the scope's already with their boss, so I guess I have to look for him if I want that scope. Eventually, I run into two TR members standing in front of a large door. As I approach the door, the henchmen bring out their pokemon, warning me not to disturb their boss, but Tenma takes out their pokemon easily as well. I return Tenma to his pokeball, and bring out Gonzalez. I assume the boss has better pokemon that what his lackey's carry around, so it's probably best to have my strongest pokemon ready. Once Gonzalez is out of his pokeball, I open up the door.
I walk through the door to find myself in a pretty well furnished office. Potted plants sit in the corner of the room, and paintings line the walls. In the back of the room is a large orange couch. Lying down the couch is a man wearing a very expensive looking back suit. In one hand he holds a cigar, the black smoke slowly billowing up into the air as it dissipates. His other other arm is half-extended off the couch, idly swirling around the partially full wine glass in his hand. On the table near the couch is what looks to be a small scope, which I assume is the one the grunt from earlier he mentioned. The way the man is lying on the couch has him facing away from both the door and the table, meaning he most likely hasn't seen me yet. I motion for Gonzalez to stay still, and slowly sneak towards the table, hoping I can grab the scope and leave without him noticing. My eyes are fixated on my prize as I slowly move forward.
"Ah, so you're the boy that's been running around causing problems." A distinguished voice calmly states. I look up to see the man suddenly sitting upright on the couch, a devious grin on his face as he stares at me intently. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Giovanni, leader of Team Rocket, and you must be Bob."
"How do you know my name?" I ask him, my eyes widening for a moment in surprise.
"Ever since you ran into some of my workers in Mt. Moon, I've been having my men keep an eye on you. I have men in nearly every city in this region, so gathering information on someone is a trivial task."
"Why take such an interest in me though?"
"As you've probably noticed, most of my workers around here are pretty lacking when it comes to using their pokemon to fight, so I've been seeking out strong trainers to recruit to Team Rocket. You seem like a pretty good fit for my organization."
"What makes you think I'd consider working for you?" I nearly spit in disgust as I respond.
Giovanni's grin widens. "I've heard about the way you battle. Your hands tremble in excitement. Your eyes stare down your opponents with frightening intensity. Your pokemon are instilled with a ferocity that turns them into savage beasts. I heard Lt. Surge still hasn't reopened his gym after how badly you tore apart his pokemon. You're just the sort of monster I need."
"Shut up!" I scream at him through teeth clenched so hard I start to taste blood inside my mouth. I make a forward motion with one of my hands, and Gonzalez runs up to me, growling at Giovanni.
"How wonderful! Already you're eager to fight me. You're even more aggressive than I had hoped!" Giovanni states joyfully. Maybe his words are true, but at this point I'm too angry to care. Giovanni casually tosses out two pokeballs. They open revealing an Onix and a Rhyhorn, massive four legged beast that appears to be made out of rock. The Onix, despite being smaller than Brock's, nearly fills the entire room. Before either pokemon get a chance to attack, Gonzalez shoots out a flurry of razor-sharp leaves that pierce through the rock pokemon on impact, taking out both pokemon. Giovanni says nothing, and simply smiles as he returns the pokemon and throws out another pokeball. The pokeball opens to show a large Kangaskhan, roaring as it stares down at Gonzalez.
Gonzalez shoots out more leaves at his new opponent, but the Kangaskhan seems unfazed as it brings a massive arm down upon Gonzalez. The Ivysaur falls down from the impact, and has difficulty getting back to its feet. I quickly call Gonzalez back to his pokeball, and then summon Chim-Chim in his place. The Kangaskhan chases Chim-Chim around the office, unable to get a hit in on the monkey. Suddenly, Chim-Chim turns toward his opponent, and dives at its leg, feet first. Chim-Chim's kick connects with the Kangaskan's knee, bringing it to the ground. "Finish him!" I shout, and Chim-Chim leaps into the air and extends its leg, landing a devastating kick on the Kangaskhan, who loses consciousness the moment the Mankey's kick connects. As Giovanni recalls his pokemon, I notice that he's moved away from the couch, and is standing against a blank part of the wall.
"You've exceeded my expectations, Bob. Hopefully next time we meet, you'll consider my offer." Giovanni says with another devious smile as the wall opens up behind him. I begin to run at him, trying to get to him before he can get away. "Not even Johnathan was as much of a monster as you." Giovanni laughs as the wall closes, his words causing me to stop so abruptly that I trip over myself, falling to the floor as Team Rocket's leader makes his escape. Did Giovanni know my father? Or did his men simply over here me speaking my father's name, and Giovanni's just messing with me? Questions fly around violently in my mind as I bring myself back up on my feet.
Once I manage to calm myself enough to think straight, I see the scope I was originally after still sitting on the table. He must have forgotten it while preparing his escape during our battle. I snatch the scope off the table, then begin my way back out of the hideout. The place was nearly abandoned now, the few remaining lackeys running at first sight of me. "I doubt I'll be able to easily find the guys looking for this, maybe I should go see for myself back in Lavender Town if this thing can really see ghosts?" I think to myself as I walk back up the staircase leading out of the hideout, thankful to be out of that place.
Pokemon Report!
Active team:
Gonzalez - Level 26 Ivysaur
Shiz - Level 20 Pidgeotto
Chim-Chim - Level 20 Mankey
Stallone - Level 26 Graveler
Callie - Level 18 Meowth
Tenma - Level 26 Kadabra
Box:
Monty Jack - Level 11 Rattata
Kenny - Level 10 Ekans
Alf - Level 6 Nidoran F
Morocco - Level 19 Diglett
HRPufnstuf - Level 13 Drowzee
Infosphere - Level 14 Voltorb
Ein - Level 25 Eevee
Dead:
Wiggler - Level 16 Beedrill - Fell as a necessary sacrifice to Gary to switch in Callie.
